Draining rack for oil cans



Nov. 20, 1951 R. R. HANKlNS DRAINING RACK FOR OIL CANS Filed March 15, 1950 Rex R. Hankins IN VEN TOR.

Patented Nov. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRAINING RACK FOR OIL CANS Rex R. Hankins, Alexandria, Minn. Application March 15, 1950, Serial No. 149,816

This invention relates to a lubricating oil salvaging device and more particularly to a device for salvaging the drippings of oil cans which are used in packaging lubricating oils for use in automotive vehicles.

An object of this invention is to provide a device having means to support lubricating oil cans from which the drippings are being salvaged in an inclined position, so that the oil which readily adheres to the walls of the cans may drain therefrom and be directed into a suitable receptacle.

A further object of this invention is to provide a rack for salvaging lubricating oil which is so arranged that a plurality of cans may be supported on the device.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an oil saving and salvaging device which will be completely enclosedso that the oil which is being reclaimed will be maintained free from foreign matter.

Another and very important object of this invention is the provision of means for crimping openings heretofore made in the can so that the oil may be drained therefrom with great ease.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the provision of an oil salvaging device that is strong, durable, highly efficient in operation, simple in construction and manufacture, capable of being made from any of a number of suitable materials, and which is relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

These, together with the various ancillary objects of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this lubricating oil salvaging device, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the device comprising the present invention in operation draining oil from a plurality of oil cans;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional detail of the invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional view as taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 2 showing the crimping blade comprising one element of the oil salvaging device in greatest detail.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral l generally designates a vertical support or standard which may readily be the wall of a filling station or any other suitable standard or post to which brackets l2 and I4 3 Claims. (01. 222112) 2 may be secured to support drainage tube in an inclined position.

The bracket I2 is preferably of L-shape and is welded or otherwise secured at its upper end to the discharge tube Hi. The bracket M is substantially V-shaped and is welded at its apex [8 to the discharge tube I6. Further, the bracket I4 is provided with flanges 20 and 22 so that such may be readily secured to the standard H].

A plurality of oil can supporting members comprising hollow cylinders and designated at 24 are secured as by welding or brazing to the discharge tube l6. These oil can supporting elements are spaced from each other a distance equivalent to the diameter of oil can from which the drippings are to be salvaged.

Each of the members 24 are provided with slots 26 therein which form a bifurcated end portion comprising upper and lower jaw elements 28 and 30. The slots 26 are preferably triangular in shape and converge at a point remote from the free end of the cylinders 24.

A substantially trapezoidal-shaped crimping blade 32 is welded or otherwise secured to the under surface of the upper jaw member 28 and extends inwardly therefrom. The jaw member 32 extends downwardly past the upper edge of the upper jaw element 28 in order to provide crimping action to be applied on the flap formed in the oil can when such is first punctured for dispensing of the contents thereof into the crankcase of an automobile or like vehicle. By making the blade 32 extend downwardly past the lower edge of the upper jaw member increased crimping action can be obtained so that the cans will be rigidly held in engagement with the lower jaw element 30. The position of these cans during the draining thereof can be readily seen upon inspection of Figure 1, and they are designated by reference numeral 34.

Suitable apertures 36 are formed in the discharge tube l6 for reception of the drippings from the oil cans 34 in order that they may be transmitted to the receptacle 38 which is positioned beneath the discharge end of the discharge tube I 6.

These apertures 36 are positioned in the discharge tube IG at a location so that the drippings from the oil can may be readily gathered in the trough of the jaw element 30 and then passed through the cylinders 24 through the apertures 36 and into the discharge tube [6. Hence, the apertures 36 are positioned adjacent the bottom inner surface of the cylinder 24.

As can be readily seen, when the oil cans 34 3 r are pressed on to the oil can supporting means the crimping blade 32 forces the can against the lower jaw member 30 and in this manner the tube to said standard at an inclined angle, and

cans are rigidly held in place until such time as the operator of the device considers that all of the oil drippings have passed through the discharge tube IB into the receptacle 38.

Since from the foregoing the construction and advantages of this lubricatingoil salvaging device are readily apparent further description is believed to be unnecessary.

However, since numerous modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification: and?v I,

accompanying drawings, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the precise embodiment shown and described, butfall "suitablemodifications and equivalents may be readily resorted to which fall within the scope of the appended claims. 7

Having described the invention; claimed as new is:

- 1. A lubricating oil salva'gin g device-compris ing a discharge tube, and tubular eil can supporting means comprising a hollow cylinder secured at one end to said dischargetube, said cylinder being in'com-munication-Withsaid discharge tube, said cylinder being provided with a bifurcated end; 'portionforming upper and lower jawelements, the upper jawhaving attached thereto oil can crimpingmeans, said up per jawf element being 'engagea'ble' within an aperture in an 'oil can, the. lower jaw element supporting the oil can, saidcrimbing'mean's'biji'nprising a blade secured to said upper "jaw and extending tcward ther center of said cylinder.

2. A lubricating oil salvaging device comprising a support standard, a discharge tube, bracke ets terminally rigidly securing said discharge tubular oil can supporting means extending perpendicularly' to said discharge tube, said oil can supporting means comprising a hollow cylinder secured at one end to said discharge tube, said cylinder being in communication with said discharge tube, said cylinder being provided with a bifurcated end portion forming upper and lower jaw elements, the upper jaw having attached thereto oil'can' crimping means, said upper jaw element being 'engageable within'an aperture in an oil can, the lower jaw element supporting the oil can, said crimping means comprising a blade secured togsaid upper jaw and extending toward thecenter of said cylinder.

3-In= a-1ubricating oil salvaging device, the

combination of adischarge tube, and oil can VREXR; j Ins:

REFERENGESCITED V I 'The 'f'0ll'ow'ing references are of record in the file of this patent: Y

UNIT'ED- STATES-PATE TS Name 7 Date Hofiman Feb. 23; 1937 Number 

